Middle Francia

Middle Francia (769-771; 843-855) was a Frankish kingdom that was formed twice. The first time occurred when Pepin the Short of Francia gave half of his lands to his son Carloman of Middle Francia, who ruled over the central and southeastern France, Switzerland, and southwestern Germany while Charlemagne ruled West Francia. In 771 Charlemagne took over both kingdoms when Carloman died, and in 843, Charlemagne's grandson Lothaire of Italy was granted the kingdom, which he held until his death in 855, upon which it became Lotharingia.

History
Pepin the Short divided his kingdom in half upon his death in 769, giving the northern and western parts to Charlemagne and the southeastern, central, and eastern parts to Carloman. Middle Francia bordered the Lombard Kingdom, traditional enemies of the Franks, to the south, and they proved a threat to the Franks. The kingdom was large and also a threat to West Francia, with the two brothers being rivals. Charlemagne balanced this disadvantage of having a rival kingdom on his borders by using his mother Bertrada's advice to secure several allies around him, such as Tassilo III of Bavaria and Desiderius of Lombardy. Carloman's death in 771 incorporated Middle Francia into West Francia.

In 843, Charlemagne's grandson Louis the Pious divided his father's great Carolingian Empire between his sons, giving Middle Francia to his son Lothaire of Italy, who ruled over a large portion of the empire. Middle Francia was again a major state, but it was also one that never had the ability to expand; on Lothaire's death in 855, it was taken into Lotharingia by Lothaire II of Lotharingia.